ONE OF WEXFORD’S most famous sporting sons is set to get involved on the county’s GAA scene this year as Kevin Doyle has come on board with the U20 football side in an advisory role.
Former Ireland striker Doyle announced his retirement from soccer last September on medical advice after suffering two concussions last season.
Since his playing career came to an end Doyle has moved home to his native Wexford and he is set to help the U20 side.
Doyle played Gaelic football for Adamstown GAA club as a youngster and at schools level for Good Counsel in New Ross.
He is good friends with Eric Bradley, a former Wexford senior footballer, who is a selector with the U20 team. Both Bradley and the U20 manager Brendan Kehoe are Adamstown club men.
PJ Banville, who brought his senior inter-county career to a close with Wexford last November, is also a selector with the side and described to The42 the boost to their setup that Doyle’s addition provides.
“Kevin is coming in with us in an advisory role,” said Banville.
“It’s great for Wexford football to have someone with his experience in sport getting involved and it’s great to have him working with the young lads this year.”
Doyle enjoyed an excellent career as he won 63 caps for Ireland and netted 14 times for his country at senior level.
He started his career in the League of Ireland with St Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City before ending it in Major League Soccer with Colorado Rapids.
In between Doyle had a career in England that featured spells with Reading, Wolves, QPR and Crystal Palace.
2018 is the first year of the new U20 football championship in the GAA as it replaces the old U21 format.
Wexford have been drawn in their group in Leinster with Dublin, Longford and Westmeath. Their matches are due to take place on 28 May, 4 June and 16 June before the knockout stages take place.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Good Man Kevin . Loads of experience as a professional sportsman to share . Thanks .
presume that he won’t be working with the forwards.
@Minom Pnnomm: teach the corner forwards how to swing in a cross maybe… or how to beat the offside trap!
@Minom Pnnomm: He’s been blazing the ball over the bar for club and Country for years
@Minom Pnnomm @Pat Bateman: Ya, what a rubbish player. Sure he was named player of the year in the Championship that time, but that league’s rubbish. He didn’t even win that PFA Young Player of the Year award he was nominated for. Sure, in 2007 he scored more headed goals than any other player in the Premiership, but calendar years are a stupid measure of performance. Do it across the full season, Kevin!
As for his time with Ireland? Don’t get me started. Pedants might point out he had the same goal/game rate as Quinn and Cascarino, who are generally well thought of, but that’s a useless metric. It’s all about the number of goals, and he’s only in joint 8th place. Pathetic. Any of us could get that in our sleep. And don’t any of you dare point out that he was primarily used as a target man and link up player alongside Robbie Keane, that’s no excuse. Even if his time alongside Keane coincided with his most prolific goalscoring, who cares? Nobody buys comics to read about Robin.
All in all, he was clearly a useless player and these Wexford lads would be better off if he never darkened their door.
@Ewan Euphrenza: What does his arse tastes like?
@Pat Bateman: Wouldn’t know myself, but I reckon you could have a fair guess. I’d say you’re familiar enough with the taste of s—e from how often it comes pouring out your mouth.
@Ewan Euphrenza: “Boohoo, Don’t slag my Kevin” – Ewan: 2018
He proved himslf on the international stage. more than can be said for GAA players.
@Sean Conway: This story must be killing you. :)
Up Wexford